A 38-year-old woman arrives at the clinic complaining of severe dysmenorrhea and tension headaches during the last three months. "It is more difficult than I imagined; I sometimes have to stay late to catch up on paperwork and am not sleeping very well," she says of her recent promotion to school principal. The patient is married and does not have any children. She falls into tears when answering inquiries about her sexual past. When the doctor asks what is bothering her, she covers her face and confesses she was sexually molested as a youngster. Which of the following is the best way to deal with the patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Physicians must convey empathy and support in the face of sexual abuse allegations. The most suitable initial response is to express empathy by acknowledging the patient's suffering and being open to listen to the patient's ideas and feelings about the abuse. This empathetic recognition will help the patient feel understood while also strengthening the doctor-patient connection. Once this initial assistance has been established, more resources and referrals can be provided as required.
Patients will differ in their comfort level when addressing earlier trauma, and the physician should follow the patient's lead in investigating this delicate area. Patients should be given the chance to discuss the abuse but should not be forced to do so. Some patients may indicate that they are not ready or willing to talk more about the trauma. In these cases, the physician should acknowledge the trauma and convey willingness to discuss it in the future

A 38-Year-Old Woman Arrives at the Clinic Complaining of Severe